Resolved External hard drive require format.

Caption displays that hard drive requires to be formatted before it can be used.
I have four external hard drives connected, each drive alternatively displays caption. Ignoring reading, hard drive functions normally. Certainly would like to learn if this error can just be ignored? as the wrong key press could prove disastrous.
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Drives capacity 1 and 2tbytes.

 

I take it your drives have been in current use before you received this message?
Has anything been added lately? Neil.

 

Drives have been in use for a year, only software installed that I can recollect is Paragon System 11 (backup software). This software is configured and at the moment not carrying out all its features. Error only surfaces periodically.

 

4 external drives in four different enclosures?

No problems with internal drives?

Have you scanned for malware?

Have you tried these drives on a different computer?

 

Each drive has its own case and placed away from computer.
Internal drive "C" has to date showed no sign of errors.
Malwarebytes software is in use whilst computer is powered and has not shown any or reported any errors.
I have only one computer and no access to any other computer.

 

And have these drives been connected the whole time? Or do you unplug them? If you unplug them, that may be part of the problem if not removed properly, of if not configured to write immediately to allow removing without walking through the "Safe to remove USB device" prompts.

 

All drives are permanently connected at all times. Caption Safe to unplug has never showed on screen to my knowledge. However, requirement to disconnect drives has not been required.

 

I am afraid I don't know what to offer. With this affecting 4 drives, I would want to try one on a different computer.

You might disconnect them all, reboot, and connect one and see what happens.

 

When the error started, I did just that and in turn sent the computer into confused mode until it settled down. As this error only happens periodically, I will continue to ignore and click marked cancel box and must remember at all times not to click the other box. I can only at the moment just ignore caption, hoping it will settle down in time. Thanks for help appreciated.

 

Carrying out a backup using Windows 7 HP 64bits, it insist to backup all four hard drives. Is there a way to only backup the internal C drive?

 

How are the drives connected ? I am guessing through USB. Are these drives powered by external adpator ?

When the error surfaces, just go in Device Manager & check if there it shows something wrong with USB. If all the drives are showing similar error messages, I believe we are looking at USB problem.

 

PeteC, I refer to Windows 7, backup insists in backing all HD. All HD boxes are untick except HD C.

 

rsinfo, three of the HD are self powered by their own transformer, one is powered through the USB socket. All drives connected to the computer by USB connection. All drives show the same error message. Device manager shows all entries as clear, no errors shown.

 

Are they connected through a hub ?

 

Yes, a Belkin 7 port powered hub.

 

Try connecting hard disks directly to the computer's USB port without using the hub. It could give us an indication to where the problem exactly is.

 

I have tried this with other gadgets and it cleared the error. Reconnecting back to the hub it then function ok, no more trouble after settling down. A new powered Belkin 7 port was bought a few days ago and prior to error starting. Certainly it appears, the other hub a much cheaper non-powered was as it could be the culprit, as the last couple of days error caption has not been seen. Mouse pointer is again taking double the time. Can the number of devices connected to the computer USB is becoming over loaded?

 

The USB doesn't get overloaded if no current or current within maximum specs. is being drawn. The USB 2.0 allows for up to 500mA per USB port @ 5V.

If you have a non powered USB hub & attach a number of peripherals, the overall USB current would be limited to 500 mA irrespective of the number of devices being powered. Obviously this current may not be sufficient for all the connected devices & hence you were facing problems.

When you switched to a powered USB hub, every USB port on the hub gets it own allocation of 500mA. This should keep your devices happy.

 

Belkin 7 port powered hub and 4 port USB 3 motherboard card.